Despite recent reprieves from three credit rating agencies, it is painfully clear that South Africa is not out of the woods, with further reviews likely before year-end. Cabinet itself has noted that the June affirmations simply provide the country with the “necessary space” to continue implementing plans to “turn the economy around”. However, there is lingering concern that, besides weak growth and high unemployment, political infighting and policy uncertainty will make the anti-junk fight almost impossible to win.